NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A 20-year-old man was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the random and unprovoked fatal stabbing of a social justice activist in 2023, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced Friday.
Brian Dowling was sentenced Wednesday following his guilty plea to second-degree murder last month.
According to the investigation, at approximately 3:50 a.m. on Oct. 2, 2023, Dowling was walking angrily and kicking parked scooters outside of 57 Malcolm X Blvd. in Bedford-Stuyvesant when he observed Ryan Carson, 32, who was walking behind him with his girlfriend.
Dowling turned to Carson and started yelling at him, saying, in part, "I'm going to kill you," then swung a knife, striking the victim, who was trying to deescalate the confrontation, according to the evidence, which includes a clear video of the incident.
Carson attempted to flee but fell over a bus stop bench. Dowling then ran up to him and fatally stabbed him repeatedly, striking his heart, as he lay on the ground, authorities said.
Dowling tossed the knife but returned moments later to retrieve it. A search revealed that the murder weapon was hidden under greenery next to a nearby sidewalk.
Dowling turned himself in later that week. A subsequent search warrant of his apartment discovered multiple knives with similar handles to the handle of the knife that was recovered. Clothes matching the ones that the assailant was wearing in the video were also recovered, officials said.
"With today's sentence, justice has been served – but that will not bring back Ryan Carson or all the benefits he would have brought to our communities if his life wasn't cut short by this defendant," D.A. Gonzalez said. "The tragic murder of this promising and passionate activist was beyond abhorrent and senseless, necessitating the lengthy prison term imposed in this case. We will continue to vigorously prosecute all acts of violence in Brooklyn and obtain accountability on behalf of victims and their loved ones."
